Rock 'n Road Challenge

The Rock 'n Road Challenge concept is simple... to provide the ultimate mountain and road cycling endeavor designed to challenge mountain bike and road cyclists of all levels with two awesome rides.

Fri Sep 6 2013 - Sun Sep 8 2013

The Rock ‘n Road Challenge concept is simple…. to provide the ultimate mountain and road cycling endeavor designed to challenge mountain bike and road cyclists of all levels with two days of awesome rides:

The "Rock" is a teeth gritting, nail biting, lung busting, cross country mountain bike race. The routes twists and turns up and down through Copper Mountain trail system only to return to the base area to have to run "the Gauntlet" where added extreme XC based elements tactfully laid out on the village streets will challenge even the best of the technical riders.

The "Road" is a classic Gran Fondo style road ride taking cyclists from a mere starting elevation of 9,600 ft to well over a rewarding 11,000 ft highpoint for riders of all levels to challenge themselves with. Being a Gran Fondo, rider will have the option of riding for time or simply riding for fun.

The ROCKSaturday, September 7 beginning at 8:00am

Starting and finishing in Burning Stones Plaza, THE ROCK loop will allow riders to navigate through the a multitude of singletrack and doubletrack over approximately 15 high alpine miles (all over 9,600 ft) and over 2,000 ft of climbing before returning back to the base area where the real challenge lies in THE GAUNTLET……. A run of strategically placed and planned elements designed by taking the typical challenges found on every other cross country ride exponentially enlarged into the village streets for some of the best technical xc riding (and viewing) ever to hit the cobblestones streets of Copper Mountain. During/After the event will showcase the Rock ‘n Road Vendor village.

Every rider will receive a sweet mussette bag full of some sweet swag including a set of Mechanics Wear Gloves, event shirt, specialized water bottle, FREE BEER and more!

The ROADSunday, September 8, beginning 7am

The latest and greatest of newest style of cycling event comes to Colorado. A Grand Fondo is a classic “Casual Race” format that offers riders a chance to ride the just under 70 mile loop for time, whether it be for personal time, bragging rights against friends or event to take on Ben Bostrom himself. This fully supported ride will start at Copper Mountain’s Burning Stones Plaza with a regulated mass start, head up over the 11,300 ft elevation of Freemont Pass and onward towards the highest incorporated city in the US, Leadville. After skirting the city of Leadville, Cyclists will loop around the scenic Turquoise Lake and then roll back over Freemont Pass and descend back to Copper Mountain for the afternoon festivities.

As a disclaimer, while Yes, this is a timed event, roads will remain open to the public at all times and all riders MUST adhere to all highway laws and also obey ANY/ALL traffic directions provided by Colorado State Patrol, local law enforcement, and/or event officials or they will be removed from the ride and ticketed accordingly.

Gran Fondo Course Specifics

Two ride options

Main loop over 70 miles long, including lap around scenic Turquoise lake

Every ride will receive a sweet mussette bag full of some sweet swag including Mechanics Wear Gloves, event shirt, specialized water bottle, FREE BEER and more!

Rock ‘n Road Festival

After the ride, the party is just getting started. On both Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the vendors, music and beer will be out in full force. Make sure not to miss the fun with cycling demos by Specialized, an awards ceremony, cruiser tour, kids race, cycling seminars, and much, much more.

Also beaming straight from the course into the festival will be one of America’s largest JumboTrons, featuring live broadcasts from special features on each course. So bring the family to watch all the highlights from right in Copper Village.